James Michael Kelly

James Michael Kelly (“Jimmy” to his parents, siblings and wife, and “Jim” to his friends and colleagues) died on June 20, 2023 at the age of 83 in Boston after a brief illness. Jim was born on November 3, 1939 in Everett, MA, the second of four children of his parents John and Anna Kelly who immigrated to the U.S. at young ages. He grew up in Melrose, MA graduating from Melrose High School in 1957. He excelled in athletics, becoming the most valuable player on his high school football team, but did not excel in academics, allegedly having to bribe his French teacher with chocolates (after flunking the course once) in order to get a passing grade on his second try enabling him to get a diploma.

With little guidance on how to pursue a career path, Jim joined the Navy at age 17 (he needed his mother’s permission) where he served as an electrician maintaining aircraft at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Hollywood, Maryland. After a 3-year stint, he was honorably discharged and returned home to Melrose, married and already the father of one child. After a series of jobs to support his young and growing family (he was the father of 4 by the time he was 26), Jim applied for and obtained a job at a new and fast-growing company, Motorola, selling two-way radios to the construction industry.

At Motorola, Jim found his true calling, first as a salesman and then as a manager. He quickly rose in the ranks and retired at the age of 59 as a Vice President and General Manager and the first (and perhaps only) non-college graduate to become an Elected Corporate Officer. One of his proudest accomplishments at Motorola was starting a paid intern program at the Glen Rock, NJ office for impoverished inner-city high school students. He often remarked that the kids who came through the program were among the smartest he had ever encountered. Jim’s retirement party drew hundreds of admiring colleagues from all over the world, who praised his business acumen, leadership skills, and his devotion and loyalty to his business colleagues and the company.

Jim never hesitated to boast that his successes in life were directly attributed to his wife and partner of almost 64 years, Judy Kelly. His first and only girlfriend, Jim met Judy at a beach party on Wingaersheek Beach in Gloucester, MA when he was fifteen years old. As legend has it, he managed to convince Judy, 2 and ½ years his senior, that he was the only sober member of the party (he wasn’t – sober) and offered to take her home. Judy (Newmark, at the time), beautiful and popular and the subject of many suitors, stuck with Jim, and married him when he was 19. Judy, his rock, bore him 4 children, Dan, Mike, Kathy and Chris, and stood by him through thick and thin. Their love and devotion to each other was palpable, deep, and an inspiration to all, especially their children and later grandchildren.

Jim and Judy’s self-made successes brought them early retirement and a chance for nearly 30 years to live an idyllic existence – spending winters in Naples, FL where Jim golfed and teamed with Judy on the bocce court, and summers on Cape Cod (Orleans) where he boated, lobstered, and lorded over his seaside home he called “the mountain”, welcoming and hosting all manner of visitors. It was in those places that Jim drew the utter admiration and love of his eight grandchildren, Maggie, Elizabeth, James, Natalie, Lara, Noah, Minah and Sarah, and two step grandchildren, Ben and Mike. In their many visits to the Cape and later to Florida, Jim, through words and example, schooled them on everything from how to give a proper handshake (use a firm grip, make sure you look the other person in the eye) to how to be a responsible spouse and parent. His generosity to his children and grandchildren was boundless as the sea and his love was unconditional.

In addition to wife and children (and their spouses Lori Brannigan Kelly, Omer Sinangil and Mabel Bossert-Kosakowski) and grandchildren, Jim is survived by his older brother Jack Kelly (and his wife Mildred) and younger sister Ann Morash (and her husband Phil). Jim outlived his younger brother Richard, who died far too young and never left his mind. He loved mentoring Richard in business and often remarked how proud he was of Richard’s achievements and the wonderful family he and his wife Brenda created.

Jim was a Roman Catholic and had a special devotion to Mary, the mother of Jesus. He often talked about his nightly prayers to Mary in which he would ask for her intercession in guiding his children and grandchildren along the right path. May his soul now rest in her arms, enveloped by the love of God, and the souls of his parents and all of his family who predeceased him.

A funeral mass was held on September 9, 2023 at St. Joan of Arc Church in Orleans, MA in Jim's memory.

An interment ceremony for Jim was held at the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Connery Ave., Bourne, MA on Monday, November 6, 2023 at 1:15 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family would welcome contributions to Holt International (https://www.holtinternational.org/donate/), an organization which facilitates adoptions and provides aid to orphans and families in need from all over the world.